Bad Teeth- a threat to health?

Have you noticed plaque build up on your pet's teeth (cats and dogs) or maybe a case of bad breath? Foul breath, especially noticed in dogs is often joked about, it is not a laughing matter. It is caused by small infections in the gums from plaque build up.

Plaque and any infected areas of the mouth contain nasty bacteria which seed infection to other organs. This can lead to kidney and liver damage. Over years this is a direct cause of kidney failure. The heart, intestinal tract and joints can also be affected.

The winner of our Pet of the month for July was "Milo" sent in by Sarah. Thank you for sending in your photo....we thought it was great. Hope you are enjoying your prize! We had a heap of fantastic photos of great pets you can check them out on our facebook page or on our website photo gallery on www.sanfordvet.com.au

Get you camera out and record some great images of your best friend. We would love to see the photo's so enter your pet in our 'Pet of the month' competition. You can upload your entry onto our facebook page or email to
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Don't forget to include a short description!

02 Who’s been sleeping in my bin?

This line may not have been included in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but it certainly applies to this charming video below.

Thoughtful locals in a small town in America, having apparently noticed that a trio of bear cubs had become stuck in a skip, set out on a rescue mission to free these little cuties.

With mumma bear close by (and probably not best pleased that her kids have got themselves in to trouble), the couple carefully reverse their ute to the roadside skip.

The lady in the back of the car then lowers a ladder into the receptacle so that the cubs can climb out – and it isn’t long before they pop their heads up out of the bin.

The three little bears are soon seen heading off with their mother (without having eaten any porridge).

Getting your cat in to a carrier can be a very stressful event and can certainly put you off taking your cat to the vet. The problems often begin as soon as your cat sees the carrier and whoosh...she’s off and hiding under the bed.

From your cat’s point of view nothing good really follows being shoved in to a carrier. Dogs leave the house for pleasurable walks but cats are invariably taken somewhere a lot less exciting.

Some tips:

1.Leave the carrier out in aaccessible part of your house so it smells like home (rather than moth balls or the dusty garage!). This will also give your cat the chance to rub her scent on the carrier. Feliway spray (that contains feel good feline facial phermones may also help in this instance- ask us for more information).

2.Get your cat to associate the carriergood things. Place a portion of food in the carrier or ‘special’ treats. You can even close the door for a few minutes while she’s inside. You can then use the same process when a trip to the vet is on the cards.

3.Vary your cues. Cats are very smartmay think... “hmmm, i usually get my treats in the evenings why am I getting it in the morning? And why does my owner have her car keys in her hand? That’s it, I’m outta here!”

4.you return home from a carrier outing with your cat continue on with your routine as usual, returning the carrier to its normal place. Eventually your cat will willingly return to the crime scene and she should soon view the carrier as a normal part of her life.

Remember: it is illegal and dangerous to have your cat unsecured in the car. Ask us for more advice on the best carrier for your cat.

04 Puppy proof your home

Ah, little puppies. So cute, cuddly and curious! If you have a new puppy you will be dealing with toilet training, a few sleepless nights and all the other joys of puppyhood but have you thought about puppy proofing your house?

Our younger dogs are most at risk for at home poisonings. Here are some top tips to make sure your house is puppy (and dog) proof:

Keep medications out of reach of your pet. This includes their medications and yours. Don't leave your handbag in reach of your furry friend (many contain dangerous contents like chocolate, chewing gum that contains xylitol, prescription medications, ibuprofen, asthma inhalers and coins- all very attractive to your pooch)

Store your rubbish in a secured cupboard and make sure the lid is secure. If you have a nosey dog, install baby locks on cabinets that contain house cleaning solutions

DON’T use mouse or rat poisons OR snail bait and and throw out any old packets you may have lying around

Keep your dog out of the garage - oil, windscreen wiper fluid and coolant are all dangerous. A few ingested drops of radiator coolant can cause kidney failure

Keep electronic cords hidden behind furniture or under carpet. Biting into an electrical cord can result in burns to the mouth

Fence off your compost

Have our veterinary number 9921 1797 stored in your phone and download the pet poisons app for more information on what’s poisonous in your household

If you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous call us immediately for advice.

05 Prescription pets?

New research that shows having a pet is helpful for women living with chronic illness has reinforced the need to recognise the role pets have in health maintenance.

The report, published in Women’s Health Issues, asked women participating in the research to identify the roles that helped them in managing their illness. Unexpectedly, being a pet owner was one of the top five helpful roles that emerged.

The report revealed that pets help people to take time out from our day to day activities, even if it is something as simple as stroking a cat or taking a dog for a walk. For someone suffering from a chronic illness, this time out can be a powerful intervention and offers the opportunity to engage with other people or create a positive mindset.

This is great research as having hard data is critical to making policy-makers listen. Building on this body of research helps support the fact that pets need to be planned for in the same way as recreation opportunities or open spaces are planned for to help improve our quality of life.